N.J. report says public schools see drop in violence, increase in drug use

The number of reported incidents of violence and vandalism in New Jersey public schools declined 5 percent, although amid that good news, cases of substance abuse increased 4 percent, according to a state report released today.

The number of total reported incidents decreased by nearly 1,000 to 17,666 from 2006-07 to 2007-08, the most recent year available and the second straight year of a decline.

Michael Mancuso/The Times of TrentonA 2005 file photo of New Jersey Senior Security Officer Robert Mendez, left, beckoning a student through a metal detector at Dunn Middle School in Trenton.

In addition, no New Jersey school has been classified as "persistently dangerous" in accordance with the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The designation is determined by a formula that considers certain violent incidents over time. Plainfield High School had received the classification last year.

"It is encouraging to see a continued decline of violent incidents and vandalism in New Jersey’s public schools," state Education Commissioner Lucille Davy said. "We need to strive for schools where staff and students feel safe. Students who feel safe do better academically."

The rise in drug abuse incidents, however, troubled authorities. Reported cases involving prescription drugs climbed from 110 in 2005-06 to 195 in 2007-08.

"There were increases in the number of incidents of the use of illegal substances. That is a concern," Davy said. "Most of that is attributable to inappropriate use of prescription drugs, which is ... really showing up across the country. That’s something we’ll be focusing on going forward."

Overall, school violence declined 5 percent, vandalism fell 11 percent and weapons incidents decreased 14 percent in the one-year period, according to the report. Since 2001, reported cases of violence are down 31 percent.

The number of reported instances of bullying, intimidation and threats grew slightly in one year, and by 7 percent over three years, the study found.

The annual study, required by the Legislature, often prompts questions about the accuracy and reliability of the data because schools report it themselves.

State officials said they monitor districts and have implemented training for school officials over the past few years so they understand what incidents are reportable.

"We will continue to monitor districts’ reporting and provide training and technical assistance where it is needed," Davy said.

In Plainfield, although the high school saw increases in some categories of the report and decreases in others, it did not meet the criteria to be designated a "persistently dangerous" school, state officials said. The district also has taken steps to address violence and vandalism, state officials said.

State officials credited many local, state and federal programs for the overall statewide decline. Those initiatives range from character development programs to federal grants to cooperation between local and state law enforcement, they said.

Stuart Green, a child advocate, praised the state for passing anti-bullying legislation in the past decade, but he noted that many school staffers still do not receive adequate training to both identify and address bullying issues.

"We’re in an interesting time now because while there’s growing awareness of the problem of peer violence in schools, it’s a huge issue that has been insufficiently addressed," said Green, director of New Jersey Coalition for Bullying Awareness and Prevention.

The New Jersey Commission on Bullying in Schools, created in 2007 to address the issue, is expected to release its recommendations in mid-November, said Green, also the commission’s chairman.